Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique to stimulate the cortical regions of the brain. rTMS can be used as a therapeutic adjunct to improve motor recovery following stroke, because of its potential to modulate cortical excitability. Depending on essential parameters of the stimulation frequency and number of trains of stimuli, rTMS can produce lasting up or down- regulation of the corticospinal system. At lower frequency (1-Hz) rTMS can suppress the excitability of the motor cortex causing an inhibitory effect; whereas at higher frequencies (>1 Hz) rTMS can increase cortical excitability causing facilitation. Many studies suggest that following stroke, there is exaggerated interhemispheric inhibition of the ipsilesional hemisphere, by the contralesional hemisphere. We report findings of a few stroke patients, where rTMS was given over the contralesional hemisphere to see its effect on the affected hand function.

Keywords: rTMS; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Stroke; Ipsilesional hemisphere; Contralesional hemisphere; Hand function.